Stronger revenue and cash flow are behind the increasing optimism. In the Bank of America spring survey, 68 percent of owners said they expect revenue to increase in the next 12 months. They feel confident about their local economies but have their eye on national and international issues that could affect their businesses.

Wells Fargo’s second-quarter Small Business Index rose to 47 from the first quarter’s 45, its highest level since the second quarter of 2008, before the financial meltdown. That was still far below the high of 114 hit in December 2006, but much better than the minus 28 posted in the third quarter of 2010.

The Wells Fargo survey found owners are gradually getting more optimistic about the prospects for their companies’ financial situation a year from now. Sixty-seven percent forecast their businesses would be in good shape, up from 66 percent in the first quarter. Fifty-nine percent expect their cash flow to be good over the next year, up from 57 percent.

The Wells Fargo survey and Bank of America’s are in line with other recent reports that show owners’ confidence slowly improving.

Both surveys found owners willing to hire. In the Wells Fargo survey, 21 percent plan to hire in the next 12 months, little changed from 22 percent in the first quarter. A larger number of owners in the Bank of America survey, 52 percent, said they were willing to hire, a jump of 21 percentage points from a year earlier.

Despite that gain, Robb Hilson, head of small business banking at Bank of America, still notes owners’ caution.

“They’re probably not going to hire in explosive numbers like they did 10 years ago,” he said.

Loans are easier for small businesses to get, adding to owners’ confidence, although many don’t want to borrow. Only 14 percent of owners surveyed by Bank of America said they plan to apply for loans this year, down from 19 percent a year ago. Owners just don’t need loans right now: More than half said their businesses are well-funded, and 42 percent said they don’t want to take on anymore debt.

The Bank of America survey questioned 1,000 small business owners during March. The Wells Fargo survey questioned 600 owners from March 31 to April 4.